Peco Gaskovski is a neuropsychologist and the author of ExoGenesis and, most recently, The Last Upheaval.
Peco and his wife, Ruth Gaskovski, are the creators and lead authors of both ‘Pilgrims in the Machine’ and ‘School of the Unconformed’. In my opinion, two of the best publications out there on how to live in a world rapidly changing due to emerging technologies! These publications are a constant source of inspiration for analogue living and a lighthouse for human values online. Truly, they are doing the Lord’s work.
In this interview, we are discussing Peco’s new sci-fi thriller ‘The Last Upheaval’. We focus on the main themes explored in the book: God, family, relationships in a fractured world, and how to remain human in the machine.
After reading an advanced copy of the book, I can confidently say it is the ‘1984’ or ‘Brave New World’ for our current troubled times. But while Orwell and Huxley had the luxury of chronological distance to their hypothesised future dystopias, Gaskovski has hit a buzzer beater and captured our strange civilisational decline in real time! Despite the heavy material, the book never feels hopeless or despondent. Peco’s unique ability to blend big ideas and humour and humanity into an engaging and exciting story keeps you coming back for more and makes ‘The Last Upheaval’ a must-read for anyone who is still awake, upright and literate today. It is a relatable, enlightening, and edifying tale, and the main character is named after Plato’s uncle Solon, so obviously, I’m in.
If you are interested, collect your copy here 👉 https://www.amazon.ie/Last-Upheaval-Peco-Gaskovski/dp/1988604249
Barnes and Noble link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-last-upheaval-peco-gaskovski/1151382351?ean=9781988604244
Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to The Last Upheaval and its themes01:03 What is the last upheaval in the novel: a cyber attack02:07 Exploring the human element in societal collapse02:54 Current civilizational moment and technological influences05:09 Narratives around AI and their societal impact07:21 The religious roots of technological eschatology08:53 The infrastructure built by digital technology and its implications10:29 Offloading human cognition onto AI and its risks12:02 The decline of human skills and virtues in the digital age15:00 Relational debt and AI's impact on human relationships16:40 The social and emotional effects of AI relationships18:20 The subtle ways AI creates dependency and relational shifts20:12 The slow erosion of human competence and character22:53 The challenges of governance and ethical AI development24:19 Environmental and energy concerns related to AI and societal collapse26:38 Balancing technological progress with human resilience28:52 The return to community, family, and faith as a solution30:28 Practical ways to stay human in a digital world33:22 The importance of social trust and relationships35:37 The Christian worldview and divine anthropology39:38 Love, virtue, and the Christian model of human relationships44:23 The necessity of conflict and difficult conversations in love48:42 Building resilient communities through faith and family55:51 The role of education and homeschooling in resilience58:39 The future of education and AI's impact on learning
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